360 Mail Bag is our opportunity to address your feedback in a causal conversation between friends.   ..read more

Random Vegas It’s been stated that the Mirage changed everything.  Specifically, in the 10 years that followed its opening the city of Las Vegas doubled visitor volume from $17 million to $35 million, room inventory from 61k to 124k, air passengers increased from $16 million to $36 million and gaming revenue from $3 billion of $7.6 billion.  (@OllyLovate) TwitPic of the week Simply put, it’s a picture of the Mirage under construction shared by @summacorp.  Never has a single property so impacted the Las Vegas market.  It’s somewhat comforting that the building will basicall ..read more

Random Vegas When the Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign was installed in 1959, the population of Las Vegas was about 70,000 people.  Today, 65 years later, that number is 2.3 million (@lasvegaslocally and research) TwitPic of the week It is the way of the world.  The only constant is change and the city of Las Vegas embodies that more than any city in the history of civilization.  The Tropicana is currently being demolished and the Mirage will be rethemed to Hard Rock.  At least we can be grateful that the stain glass ceiling at Tropicana is going to be saved, showcased by ..read more

  The Fountains of Bellagio are one of the most recognizable landmarks in the world.  You’ve seen them on TV, in movies and even cartoons.  The Fountains transcend pop cultural trends that phase out over a decade or two and instead has become one of the unofficial ambassadors of the city of Las Vegas, as identifiable as the strip itself and the Welcome to Vegas sign.  Sadly, it is the last of the free shows Steve Wynn gave us while he was remaking the strip in his image.  As beloved as it is, we have to prepare ourselves.  Remember, especially in Vegas, everything ..read more

Random Vegas The original trains used on the Las Vegas Monorail were from Walt Disney World.  When they debuted, they simply connected Bally’s to MGM Grand. (@LasVegasLocally) TwitPic of the week The Queen of the Strip, as she was known, basking in the morning glow of a sunrise shared by @_GrandpaD.  The Stardust Super Pylon marquee was remarkable for so many reasons.  The font, the shower of stars and how the pylons were designed to disappear at night.  They were planted blue to do the same thing during the day but that only worked when there was a blue sky behind it…which ..read more

w/ Josh and Tony This week, we are drafting our favorite Vegas Movies.  The game is simple.  Pick your favorite Vegas movies. The trick is we are all drafting from the same pool of movies and a movie is only available to be selected by one person.  This is NOT a list of the best movies set in Vegas nor is it a game to select the most valuable movies.  There is no score, there aren’t winners or losers.  This is just a chance for us to talk about some of our favorite Vegas movies for whatever reason we come up with ..read more

Random Vegas The Fountains of Bellagio are not the first dancing fountains to exist in Las Vegas.  The original debuted in 1955 at the Royal Nevada.  They were simply called the Dancing Water’s and consisted of 4,000 jet streams and lights revolving and swaying in sync with waltz music.  They could accomplish heights has high as 50 foot.  The attraction was universally liked however the Royal Nevada thought they could offer this show instead of headliners.  The property struggled and closed 3 years after it opened. (The Strip: Las Vegas and the Architecture of the Amer ..read more

360 Mail Bag is our opportunity to address your feedback in a causal conversation between friends ..read more

Random Vegas In 1968, Las Vegas could lay claim to the 3 tallest electric signs in the world.  The Dunes at 180, the Frontier at 184 and the Stardust at 188 feet tall    TwitPic of the week How can you not be proud of that collection of properties?  Specifically, it feels like MGM treats @LuxorLV and Excalibur like unwanted commodities.  Which is funny because they bought Mandalay Resorts, one of the most profitable gaming companies in history, with a portfolio that primarily catered to the middle class.  Since then they’ve sold off Circus Circus and threaten ..read more

Okay.  Let’s start by addressing the Elephant in the room.  Las Vegas was racist.  Really, really racist.  Not Alabama bad but Las Vegas was known as the “Mississippi of the west” and I’m certain it wasn’t a compliment ..read more